OAKHURST – A small local organization with charitable ties to Haiti is hosting an inspirational fundraising event this weekend, and it’s sure to be a lot of fun.
Susan and Tim Madden have invited supporters of their nonprofit foundation, “Be the Power of One,” to the Queen’s Inn on Saturday, May 10, for an entertaining evening of music, wine and food – all for a really good cause.
The 3rd Annual Wine Tasting to benefit Be the Power of One, aka “A Night of One,” starts at 4 p.m. this Saturday, with a suggested donation of $25 per person. Caterer Shelley Arnest from Taste of Soul is dishing up fine Haitian and Caribbean food. When it comes to the grape, Idle Hour Winery, Westbrook Wine Farm and Fasi Estates are all adding award-winning vinos to the mix.
Musicians slated to attend are the outstanding Jimmy Collier, Casey Lucas, Tamara Dent, and Joe Nelson, with possibly more in store. An on-site raffle will give guests access to a wealth of tempting takeaways, and everyone who attends will be entered in to win a door-prize, guaranteed to be wonderful.
Wonderful is also how the Maddens are feeling about the organization, and the event. The philosophy behind Be the Power of One is simple, according to the Susan and Tim. “It doesn’t just take one person with a boatload of money to help. It can be many people giving a dollar, an hour, a lunch, a warm thought to make a difference.”
Be the Power of One exists to raise funds to promote education in developing communities, leading to more sustainable communities. Funds raised are used to purchase critically needed supplies and services including school supplies, books, desks, food, and also essential infrastructure such as water wells and school buildings.
The focus on fundraising is on encouraging individuals, businesses and groups to give what they are able to give, no matter how small, and to promote the belief that many people working together can affect significant, positive change in the world.
Special attention is given to involving primary and secondary schools in the United States in the fundraising efforts, incorporating their efforts in lesson plans and creating a better understanding of different cultures.
“The most exciting aspect of the wine tasting event is how it continues to grow,” says Tim. The wine tasting festivity was held twice previously at the Cool Bean Café, and is now moving on to a bigger location.
“We are really excited and thankful that the Queen’s Inn is hosting this year. Our Oakhurst friends have been amazingly supportive over the years. This annual fundraiser and ongoing monthly support has enabled Be the Power of One to provide the funds to support an elementary school of 115 students in Pignon, Haiti.”
Madden explains that a monthly donation of just $20 pays all the expenses for a student to attend school in Pignon, including a nutritious lunch.
“One of the things that makes Be the Power of One unique is that Susan and I are the only step between a donation in Oakhurst and education in Haiti. Nothing gets lost by having to go through a national or international organization.”
To the contrary: Oakhurst area service organizations have been instrumental in helping out the families in Pignon. Both the Oakhurst Sierra Rotary and the Sierra Sunrise Rotary, along with the Tracy Sunrise Rotary in California, put together the initial funds to finance drilling the well in Pignon. As the Maddens found out: if you don’t have water to drink, cook and clean, it’s much harder to go to school.
Both Susan and Tim are determined to give back to the community here in the foothills, as well. They will begin their common tenure as Presidents of their respective Rotary clubs, as of July 1: Tim with Sierra Sunrise and Susan with Oakhurst Sierra, commonly called “noon” Rotary. Late in May, the couple will travel to Australia, for the Rotary International Convention in Sydney. This summer, they will return to Pignon.
In the meantime, the Maddens are hoping to see a packed house on Saturday night for the 3rd annual wine tasting, “A Night of One,” – they say it’s a good way to get together with friends, partake of satisfying treats, and make a difference while doing so.
